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of Israel was lower than the one and higher than the other。 The
Septuagint say that 〃they prepared timber and stones to build the
temple for three years；〃 1 Kings 5：18； and although neither our
present Hebrew copy； nor Josephus； directly name that number of
years； yet do they both say the building itself did not begin
till Solomon's fourth year； and both speak of the preparation of
materials beforehand； 1 Kings v。 18； Antiq。 B。 VIII。 ch。 5。 sect。
1。 There is no reason； therefore； to alter the Septuagint's
number； but we are to suppose three years to have been the just
time of the preparation； as I have done in my computation of the
expense in building that temple。
（13） This solemn removal of the ark from Mount Sion to Mount
Moriah； at the distance of almost three quarters of a mile；
confutes that notion of the modern Jews； and followed by many
Christians also； as if those two were after a sort one and the
same mountain； for which there is； I think； very little
foundation。
（14） This mention of the Corinthian ornaments of architecture in
Solomon's palace by Josephus seems to be here set down by way of
prophecy although it appears to me that the Grecian and Roman
most ancient orders of architecture were taken from Solomon's
temple； as from their original patterns； yet it is not so clear
that the last and most ornamental order of the Corinthian was so
ancient； although what the same Josephus says； （Of the War； B。 V。
ch。 5。 sect。 3；） that one of the gates of Herod's temple was
built according to the rules of this Corinthian order； is no way
improbable； that order being； without dispute； much older than
the reign of Herod。 However； upon some trial； I confess I have
not hitherto been able fully to understand the structure of this
palace of Solomon； either as described in our Bibles； or even
with the additional help of this description here by Josephus；
only the reader may easily observe with me； that the measures of
this first building in Josephus； a hundred cubits long； and fifty
cubits broad； are the very same with the area of the cart of the
tabernacle of Moses。 and just hall' an Egyptian orout； or acre。
（15） This signification of the name Pharaoh appears to be true。
But what Josephus adds presently； that no king of Egypt was
called Pharaoh after Solomon's father…in…law； does hardly agree
to our copies； which have long afterwards the names of Pharaoh
Neehob； and Pharaoh Hophrah； 2 Kings 23：29； Jeremiah 44：30；
besides the frequent mention of that name Pharaoh in the
prophets。 However； Josephus himself； in his own speech to the
Jews； Of the War； B。 V。 ch。 9。 sect。 4； speaks of Neehao； who was
also called Pharaoh； as the name of that king of Egypt with whom
Abraham was concerned； of which name Neehao yet we have elsewhere
no mention till the days of Josiah； but only of Pharaoh。 And；
indeed； it must be conceded； that here； and sect。 5； we have more
mistakes made by Josephus； and those relating to the kings of
Egypt； and to that queen of Egypt and Ethiopia； whom he supposes
to have come to see Solomon； than almost any where else in all
his Antiquities。
（16） That this queen of Sheba was a queen of Sabea in South
Arabia； and not of Egypt and Ethiopia； as Josephus here asserts；
is； I suppose； now generally agreed。 And since Sabea is well
known to be a country near the sea in the south of Arabia Felix；
which lay south from Judea also； and since our Savior calls this
queen； 〃the queen of the south；〃 and says； 〃she came from the
utmost parts of the earth；〃 Matthew 12：42； Luke 11：31； which
descriptions agree better to this Arabia than to Egypt and
Ethiopia； there is little occasion for doubting in this matter。
（17） Some blame Josephus for supposing that the balsam tree might
be first brought out of Arabia； or Egypt； or Ethiopia； into
Judea； by this queen of Sheba； since several have said that of
old no country bore this precious balsam but Judea； yet it is not
only false that this balsam was peculiar to Judea but both Egypt
and Arabia； and particularly Sabea； had it； which last was that
very country whence Josephus； if understood not of Ethiopia； but
of Arabia； intimates this queen might bring it first into Judea。
Nor are we to suppose that the queen of Sabaea could well omit
such a present as this balsam tree would be esteemed by Solomon；
in case it were then almost peculiar to her own country。 Nor is
the mention of balm or balsam； as carried by merchants； and sent
as a present out of Judea by Jacob； to the governor of Egypt；
Genesis 37：25； 43：11； to be alleged to the contrary； since what
we there render balm or balsam； denotes rather that turpentine
which we now call turpentine of Chio； or Cyprus； the juice of the
turpentine tree； than this precious balm。 This last is also the
same word that we elsewhere render by the same mistake balm of
Gilead； it should be rendered； the turpentine of Gilead； Jeremiah
8：22。
（18） Whether these fine gardens and rivulets of Etham； about six
miles from Jerusalem； whither Solomon rode so often in state； be
not those alluded to； Ecclesiastes 2：5； 6； where he says； 〃He
made him gardens and orchards； and planted trees in them of all
kinds of fruits： he made him pools of water； to water the wood
that bringeth forth trees；〃 and to the finest part whereof he
seems to allude； when； in the Canticles； he compares his spouse
to a garden 〃enclosed；〃 to a 〃spring shut up；〃 to a 〃fountain
sealed；〃 ch。 4。 12 （part of which from rains are still extant； as
Mr。 Matmdrell informs us； page 87； 88）； cannot now be certainly
determined； but may very probably be conjectured。 But whether
this Etham has any relation to those rivers of Etham； which
Providence once dried up in a miraculous manner； Psalm 74：15； in
the Septuagint； I cannot say。
（19） These seven hundred wives； or the daughters of great men；
and the three hundred concubines； the daughters of the ignoble；
make one thousand in all； and are； I suppose； those very one
thousand women intimated elsewhere by Solomon himself； when he
speaks of his not having found one ＇good＇ woman among that very
number； Ecclesiastes 7：28。
（20） Josephus is here certainly too severe upon Solomon； who； in
making the cherubims； and these twelve brazen oxen； seems to have
done no more than imitate the patterns left him by David； which
were all given David by Divine inspiration。 See my description of
the temples； ch。 10。 And although God gave no direction for the
lions that adorned his throne； yet does not Solomon seem therein
to have broken any law of Moses； for although the Pharisees and
latter Rabbins have extended the second commandment； to forbid
the very making of any image； though without any intention to
have it worshipped； yet do not I suppose that Solomon so
understood it； nor that it ought to be so understood。 The making
any other altar for worship but that at the tabernacle was
equally forbidden by Moses； Antiq。 B。 IV。 ch。 8。 sect。 5； yet did
not the two tribes and a half offend when they made an altar for
a memorial only； Joshua 22； Antiq。 B。 V。 ch。 1。 sect。 26； 27。
（21） Since the beginning of Solomon's evil life and adversity was
the time when Hadad or Ader； who was born at least twenty or
thirty years before Solomon came to the crown； in the days of
David； began to give him disturbance； this implies that Solomon's
evil life began early； and continued very long； which the
multitude of his wives and concubines does imply also； I suppose
when he was not fifty years of age。
（22） This youth of Jeroboam； when Solomon built the walls of
righteous and keep the laws； because he hath proposed to thee the
greatest of all rewards for thy piety； and the honor thou shalt
pay to God； namely； to be as greatly exalted as thou knowest
David to have been。〃 Jerusalem； not very long after he had
finished his twenty years building of the temple and his own
palace； or not very long after the twenty…fourth of his reign； 1
Kings 9：24； 2 Chronicles 8：11； and his youth here still
mentioned； when Solomon's wickedness was become intolerable；
fully confirm my former observation； that such his wickedness
began early； and continued very long。 See Ecclus。 47：14。
（23） That by scorpions is not here meant that small animal so
called； which was never used in corrections； but either a shrub；
furze bush； or else some terrible sort of whip of the like nature
see Hudson's and Spanheim's notes here。
（24） Whether these 〃fountains of the Lesser Jordan〃 were near a
place called Dan； and the fountains of the Greater near a place
called Jor； before their conjunction； or whether there was only
one fountain； arising at the lake Phiala； at first sinking under
ground； and then arising near the mountain Paneum； and thence
running through the lake Scmochonitis to the Sea of Galilee； and
so far called the Lesser Jordan； is hardly certain； even in
Josephus himself； though the latter account be the most probable。
However； the northern idolatrous calf； set up by Jeroboam； was
where Little Jordan fell into Great Jordan； near a place called
Daphnae； as Josephus elsewhere informs us； Of the War； B。 IV。 ch。
1。 sect。 1： see the note there。
（25） How much a larger and better copy Josephus ha